Kissing Cockroaches

This week at Tanglewood we have 11 "city" girls (aged 10-15) attending our Meg Lowman Camp. They are a great bunch with varied backgrounds and interests and boundless energy. They help me remember what nature can be like when you first encounter it. Sometimes it is downright scary. But after you learn how much there isn't to fear in nature, it is surprisingly interesting and you might even get closer to it than you've ever imagined.

I noticed this today when we were discussing Arthropods and brought out the Madagascar Kissing Cockroach- I mean Hissing Cockroach. Yes, like the ones they eat on Fear Factor, but we don't eat ours, apparently we kiss them. At first, there were a lot of screams and protestations of "EWW" and "GROSS". But after we had them out for a bit and offered to let the girls hold them, things got interesting. First some would say "NO WAY" but after a few brave souls held the crawly creatures, soon everyone was. There was even one young lady, who shall remain nameless, that KISSED the creepy little critter. She was proud of herself, but soon after went to the bathroom to clean her lips. I told her that kissing a boy was much more germy than kissing a Madagasgar Hissing Cockroach. I don't think I really convinced her, after all she is 15 and right at that boy-crazy stage. But for a little while at Tanglewood, she was at the bug-crazy stage. Hopefully her first time kissing a cockroach is something she will never forget; I know I won't. Thanks Tamara! :-)